Disney settles Florida dispute after ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill backlash

 Disney reached a settlement with Florida tourism authorities Wednesday after a row over its pushback against Governor Ron DeSantis’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which aimed to outlaw teachings of certain LGBTQ issues in schools.

The legal action came after Disney criticized the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill pushed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantisThe legal action came after Disney criticized the so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill pushed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis © VALERIE MACON, Christian MONTERROSA / AFP/File

The entertainment giant took legal action after Florida’s lawmakers revoked a unique arrangement which allowed Disney — the state’s largest private employer — to control development on a chunk of land home to its city-sized theme park.

The cancellation was widely seen as retaliation by DeSantis, a former Republican presidential candidate, after Disney criticized his 2022 law which banned lessons on sexuality and gender issues in Florida’s elementary schools.

On Wednesday, Disney announced it had reached a settlement with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the DeSantis-appointed body which in 2023 took over management of the land hosting Walt Disney World Resort.

It had replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District which since the 1960s had been headed by Disney-selected representatives with special permission to govern some aspects of the area.

The settlement sets the scene for a future agreement between Disney and Florida authorities over how the two sides will manage the site.

Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said the agreement “opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district,” adding it would enable continued investment and job creation.

Disney employs tens of thousands of staff at its theme park and headquarters in Orlando.

In March 2022, the company announced its opposition to Florida’s newly passed Parental Rights in Education Act and said it would support efforts to overturn the bill.

“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” Disney said.

It came after some of its workers staged a walkout in mid-March ahead of the legislation being passed.

Related Posts

🔥📺 PRIME Just Dropped a Bosch-Style Thriller That’s Shaking Up TV — and It’s Sitting at a PERFECT 100% on Rotten Tomatoes! 🍅💯

If you haven’t pressed play, you’re missing the crime drama event of the year. Prime Video’s latest series, Ballard, has taken the streaming world by storm, earning…

Elon Musk Attends Jeff Bezos’ Mother’s Funeral with an Unexpected Tribute.

On August 14, 2025, the world was surprised by an extraordinary moment of camaraderie between two of the most influential figures in technology: Elon Musk and Jeff…

Shocking Midnight Leak Exposes Tom Cruise’s Heartbreaking Words About Daughter Suri: “She’s Just a Mistake” – A Father’s Betrayal That Will Leave You Speechless

In the glittering world of Hollywood, where fame and fortune often mask personal turmoil, a bombshell has just detonated, sending shockwaves through the industry and beyond. A…

Tom Cruise’s Bold Defiance: How a Single Phone Call from Trump Flipped the Script on the Kennedy Center Honors Drama!

In the glittering world of Hollywood, where fame and power collide, few stories have sparked as much intrigue as Tom Cruise’s recent clash with former President Donald…

Tom Cruise’s Heart-Wrenching Dilemma: Choosing Between His Long-Lost Daughter and His Sizzling Romance with Ana de Armas – What Are the Shocking Conditions to Reclaim Suri?

Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, a name synonymous with blockbuster films and a larger-than-life persona, finds himself at a crossroads that could redefine his legacy. At 63, the…

💔👗 Drama Hits Hard in The Hunting Wives Season 2 — Sophie Stumbles Upon Margot & Jill’s Affair, and Nothing Will Be the Same 😱🩸

A Scandalous Revelation Rocks East Texas In the sultry, high-stakes world of Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, where East Texas socialites weave a tangled web of privilege, desire,…